Black Or White: Who Should Exercise More?

Scientists have discovered that the white man stands a chance of facing a health risk from extreme exercising.

While the black man can withstand over 7 hours of exercise, the white man may experience stress on the arteries, leading to higher coronary artery calcification(CAC).

CAC is a buildup of plaque in the heart arteries. It is an indicator that the sufferer is developing traits of a heart disease.

This finding further proves that genes influences the physical strength of a person.

Africans are generally known for their history of hard work. Though endurance training enhances physical strength for people of all races, the black man naturally has the tendency to be stronger.

Researchers from Chicago discovered that White men who work out at least 7½ hours a week are nearly twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as those who do a moderate amount of exercise.

From the new study, the researchers looked at the health history of people within the age ranges of 18-20, and 43-55, who exercised often over a 25 year period (1985 – 2011). It was discovered that very active white men are about 86% more likely to experience a heart disease by middle age.

The team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Kaiser Permanente studied the physical activity patterns of 3,175 black and white participants in the longterm CARDIA to ascertain the presence of CAC.

Split into 3 groups the researchers discovered the following:

1st Group exercised below the national guidelines of less than 150 minutes a week.

2nd Group met the national guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise a week

3rd Group exercised 3 times more than the national guidelines of over 450 minutes a week.

The results from the various groups were later re-grouped under gender and race. They found that white men were at the highest risk of developing CAC.

According to Deepika Laddu, assistant professor of physical therapy at the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences, said:

“We expected to see that higher levels of physical activity over time would be associated with lower levels of CAC.”

“Because the study results show a significantly different level of risk between black and white participants based on long-term exercise trajectories, the data provides rationale for further investigation, especially by race, into the other biological mechanisms for CAC risk in people with very high levels of physical activity.”

Dr. Jamal Rana, a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland concurs that a high level of exercise over time may put strain on the arteries. However, he added that the study has not authenticated that the plaque buildup in the artery can rupture to cause a heart attack.

Rana emphasizes still the importance of exercise to the general well-being. The new study only suggests that it should be done within a healthy frame of time.

Another health condition associated with extreme exercising is known as rhabdomyolysis. This is the condition where the muscles break down and release toxins into the body. This ultimately leads to kidney failure.